Roller skate wheel assembly

ABSTRACT

A skate wheel includes a gas-filled tire tube that is secured to the tire rim of a bearing frame by molding a cover layer around the tube and frame to form an integrated wheel assembly which provides buffering and shock-absorbing functions during skating.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/435,953,filed May 5, 1995, for Roller Skate Wheel Assembly now U.S. Pat. No.5,853,225.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to roller skate wheels, andparticularly to wheels of the type utilizing a pneumatic tire.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are two basic types of wheels for roller skates, including thesolid wheel and the pneumatic wheel. FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawingsdisclose conventional roller skates of the in-line type and double-linetype, respectively, which are provided with solid wheels formed ofrubber, plastic or other appropriate material. Because of the solidwheel construction, these skates often cause discomfort to skaters,particularly when they are performing maneuvers, such as jumping orother high impact movements, which transmit vibrations from the grounddirectly to their feet. Such skating requires a high level of skill inorder to avoid injuries to the feet from shock, which often causessprains. However, to most skaters, such discomfort and injuries arealmost unavoidable.

In order to mitigate the drawbacks of solid wheels, it is known toprovide roller skates with wheels formed from pneumatic tires. Wheels ofthis type serve as cushions with a shock-absorbing function, an exampleof which is disclosed by the Taiwan Patent Application Publication No.81215017. Pneumatic wheels provide greater comfort to the skater and thepressure of the tire may be adjusted to vary skating acceleration. Sincea pneumatic wheel is lighter than a comparable solid wheel, the overallweight of the skate is reduced, particularly if the skate requires fouror more wheels.

The tire of a pneumatic skate wheel is installed on a wheel rim in amanner similar to the tires of conventional vehicles, such asautomobiles or motorcycles. Such vehicle tires are constructed to resistdeformation under pressure and thereby assure safety while the vehicleis moving straight or around a turn. However, because roller skates aresubjected to a greater variety of movements, such as jumping,accelerating and landing on the ground at various angles, there existsthe possibility that the tire may fall off the wheel rim and therebycause injury to the skater. Moreover, a skater can travel at a speed ofaround 30-40 miles per hour, a speed which is quite high and imparts arolling speed to the wheels that is at least five times that ofautomobile or motorcycle wheels. When skate wheels roll at this highspeed, the centrifugal force generated may result in deforming thepneumatic tire of the skate wheel and pose potential danger to theskater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedcushioned wheel assembly for a roller skate which provides a shockbuffering and absorbing function during skating.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved rollerskate wheel assembly having a pneumatic tire which resists deformationand detachment from the wheel rim during all skating movements, therebyenhancing safety to the skater.

These and other objects of the invention are realized by providing animproved skate wheel assembly which includes an annular bearing framedefined by an inner circumferential bearing seat, an outercircumferential tire rim and a radially extending circumferential bridgeportion connecting the bearing seat and wheel rim. A pneumatic tire ismounted on the tire rim and an outer covering layer is molded around thetire and bearing frame to form an integrated wheel assembly. A pluralityof bearings are installed in a central circular passage defined by thebearing seat and a wheel shaft is rotatably supported through thebearings.

Further embodiments of the invention include providing the outercovering layer with a reinforcing filler material, providing the tirewith circumferentially spaced annular grooves which may also be providedwith reinforcing filler material, mounting the tire to a sectionalizedtire rim whereby substantially the entire tire is exposed in the wheelassembly, and providing the tire with a check valve for inflating thesame.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall becomeapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings whereinlike reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the severalviews.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing a prior art in-lineroller skate with solid wheels.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art double-line roller skatewith solid wheels.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view, partly in section, of a prior art in-lineroller skate with pneumatic wheels.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional pneumatic wheelmounted to a wheel rim and subjected to deformation forces duringskating.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a roller skatewheel assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a roller skate wheel assemblyaccording to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a roller skate wheel assemblyaccording to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 longitudinal are cross-sectional views showing a tiretube for use in a roller skate wheel assembly according to a fourthembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a roller skatewheel assembly with a tire tube shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the bearing frame shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 13--13 of FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of an alternate form of bearing frame similarto that shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 15--15 of FIG.14.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view showing a tire tube for use with the rollerskate of the present invention according to a fifth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 17--17 of FIG.16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A skate wheel assembly 1 according to a first embodiment of theinvention shall now be described with initial reference to FIG. 4. Asshown therein, assembly 1 includes an annular-shaped bearing frame 20that is preferably integrally formed from metal, plastic or otherappropriate rigid material. Frame 20 is defined by an outercircumferential tire rim 21, an inner circumferential bearing seat 23and a radially extending circumferential bridge portion 20A. Bearingseat 23 defines a central circular passage 23A for receiving a wheelshaft 25 and a bearing assembly 26 therethrough. Bridge portion 20A mayalso be provided with a plurality of spaced holes 22 therethrough for apurpose to be hereinafter indicated.

A circular inflatable tire tube 30 is supported on tire rim 21 andsecured thereto by molding a cover layer 40 around tire 30 and bearingframe 20 to form an integrated wheel assembly 1. Cover layer 40 may beof rubber, plastic or other suitable moldable material and serves tosecurely maintain tire 30 on tire rim 21 and prevent its accidentaldetachment during skating.

Tire tube 30 has a hollow inner space 24 that is filled with gas,preferably a nonair large molecular gas having a low permeability fordiffusion, before the molding of cover layer 40 in order to preventleakage of the gas from tube 30 before 5-7 years. Preferred gases ofthis type may include sulfur hexafluoride, perfluoropropane,hexafluoroethane, octafluorocyclobutane, perfluorocyclobutane,hexafluoropropylene, bromotrifluoromethane, monochlorotrifluoromethane,tetrafluoromethane, monochloropentafluoroethane,1,2-dichloro-tetrafluoroethane,1,2,2-trichloro-1,2,2 trifluoroethane,chlorotrifluoroethylene, and the like.

Holes 22 of bridge portion 20A receive cover layer 40 therethroughduring the molding process in order to enhance the overall integralstrength of completed wheel assembly 1. Thus, tire tube 30, bearingframe 20 and cover layer 40 are integrally fastened together, with coverlayer 40 serving as an outer tire for contacting the ground surface. Thecombination of inner inflated tire tube 30 and outer cover layer 40provides enhanced buffering and shock-absorbing functions duringskating, and the integrated construction of wheel assembly 1 preventsdeformation and detachment of tire tube 30 from tire rim 21 during highspeed skating and execution of different skating maneuvers. Therefore,wheel assembly 1 provides the advantages of a conventional solid wheelbut without the drawbacks and disadvantages thereof.

A second embodiment of the invention shall now be described withreference to FIG. 5. This embodiment is similar to that of FIG. 4 withthe exception that a filler of reinforcing fiber material is provided inthe regions of cover layer 40 between tire rim 21 and bearing seat 23 inorder to further strengthen assembly 1. Cover layer 40 is embedded withfibers such as cotton, linen or the like. Cover layer 40 may also beembedded with steel wires similar to those utilized in conventionalautomobile and motorcycle tires. The presence of filler 50 serves toprevent cover layer 40 from premature cracking or deteriorating. Filler50 is molded integrally with cover layer 40 so that cover layer 40 canbe securely locked to bearing frame 20, thus preventing cover layer 40from breaking and detaching from frame 20, and also preventing injury tothe skater.

A third embodiment of the invention shall now be described withreference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As particularly shown in FIG. 6, thisembodiment utilizes a tire tube 30 which can be inflated by the user andmay also be utilized on the wheel assemblies of other vehicles, such ascars and motorcycles. A valve 60 is provided on a sidewall portion oftire tube 30 for connection to a pressurized gas source. Valve 60 may bea conventional check valve which prevents the pressurized gas withintube 30 from leaking out. Preferably, valve 60 is formed from a softresilient material, such as rubber, plastic or the like. As furthershown in FIG. 7, three recesses 41 can be formed on a side of coverlayer 40 and spaced 90° apart from each other and valve 60. Recesses 41are each filled with a material having the same weight as valve 60,thereby providing a rotational balancing of wheel assembly 1. Suchmaterial may include rubber, plastic or metal. Similar recesses 41 arealso provided on the opposite side of wheel assembly 1.

A fourth embodiment of the invention shall now be described withreference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 which separately depict longitudinalcross sections of tire tube 30 according to this embodiment. As showntherein, tire tube 30 includes a plurality of spaced annular grooves 31of reduced diameter, thereby increasing the exterior surface area oftube 30. This provides a greater contact surface for adherence of coverlayer 40 during the molding of layer 40 to tube 30. This results in astronger integrated structure, as evident in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9,grooves 31 may be provided with filler material 51 to further strengthentube 30 so that the latter can function as either an inner tire, asshown in FIG. 8, or an outer tire wherein its exterior ground contactsurface is not provided with cover layer 40. Filler material 51 mayinclude an elastomeric material, a foam elastomeric material, or a fiberplus an elastomeric material. Preferred elastomeric materials includepolyurethane, polyester elastomer, fluoroelastomer, ethylene propylenepolymer, chlorinated polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorosulfonatedpolyethylene, polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, neoprene,natural rubber high strength silicone rubber, butadiene acrylonitrilerubber, butadiene styrene rubber, low density polyethylene, adductrubber, sulfide rubber, methyl rubber, or any kind or thermoplasticrubber. Annular grooves 31 essentially divide tube 30 into a pluralityof sections. As also seen in FIG. 10, a repairing member 70 may beeasily and independently attached to a puncture of tire 30, with suchpuncture being prevented from spreading to other areas of tire 30 by thepresence of annular grooves 31, thus facilitating the repair of tube 30.

As shown in FIG. 11, tire tube 30 serves essentially as an outer tire ofwheel assembly 1, and utilizes the modified form of tire tube 30 shownin FIG. 9. In this case, tire rim 21 may be formed from a plurality ofseparate sections, and the cover layer 40, rim 21, tube 30 and bearingframe 20 collectively forming a strong integrated structure, with theexterior portion of tube 30 serving as an outer tire for contacting theground surface. As more particularly seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, eachsection of rim 21 may be provided with holes 21A in opposed sidewallsthereof for assisting in the secure attachment of tube 30 to rim 21 bycover layer 40.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, an alternate form of bearing frame 20 isdepicted for securing a tire tube 30 of the type utilized in FIG. 12. Inthis case, tire rim 21 is of a continuous configuration and bridgeportion 20A is sectionalized to define a plurality of spokes extendingradially outwardly from bearing seat 23 to tire rim 21.

A fifth embodiment of a skate wheel assembly according to the inventionshall now be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. As showntherein, this embodiment provides tire tube 30 with a valve seat 61 on abelly portion thereof for securing a one-way valve 60 to tube 30.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred embodiments thereof, and thatvarious changes in shape, material, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

I claim:
 1. A skate wheel assembly comprising:a) an annular-shapedbearing frame including a bearing seat defining a central passagetherethrough for receiving a bearing and wheel shaft assembly; b) a tirerim including at least one wall section extending from the bearingframe, the wall section defining an annular space, and at least one holeformed through the wall section; c) an inflatable tire tube mountedwithin the annular space; and d) a cover layer molded around at least aportion of the tire tube, tire rim bearing frame and into the at leastone hole formed through the wall section for securing the tire tube tothe tire rim and forming an integrated wheel assembly therewith.
 2. Theskate wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tire tube is prepressurizedwith a gas prior to the cover layer being molded therearound.
 3. Theskate wheel assembly of claim 2 wherein the gas is a nonair moleculargas.
 4. The skate wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tire tube ispressurized with a nonair molecular gas.
 5. The skate wheel assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the tire rim includes a plurality of separate wallsections.
 6. The skate wheel assembly of claim 5 wherein each separatewall section includes a pair of opposed side walls, and each side wallincludes a hole formed therethrough.
 7. A skate wheel assemblycomprising:a) an annular-shaped bearing frame including a bearing seatdefining a central passage therethrough for receiving a bearing andwheel shaft assembly; b) a tire rim including at least one wall sectionextending from the bearing frame, the wall section defining an annularspace, at least one hole formed through the wall section, and a bridgeportion connecting the tire rim and bearing seat; c) an inflatable tiretube mounted within the annular space; and d) a cover layer moldedaround at least a portion of the tire tube, tire rim, bearing frame andinto the at least one hole formed through the wall section for securingthe tire tube to the tire rim and forming an integrated wheel assemblytherewith.
 8. The skate wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein the tire tubeis prepressurized with a gas prior to the cover layer being moldedtherearound.
 9. The skate wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein the gas is anonair molecular gas.
 10. The skate wheel assembly of claim 7 whereinthe tire tube is pressurized with a nonair molecular gas.
 11. The skatewheel assembly of claim 7 wherein the tire rim includes a plurality ofseparate wall sections.
 12. The skate wheel assembly of claim 11 whereineach separate wall section includes a pair of opposed side walls, andeach side wall includes a hole formed therethrough.
 13. A skate wheelassembly comprising:a) an annular-shaped bearing frame including abearing seat defining a central passage therethrough for receiving abearing and wheel shaft assembly; b) a tire rim including at least onewall section extending from the bearing frame, the wall section definingan annular space, and at least one hole formed through the wall section;c) a tire tube mounted within the annular space; and d) a combinationcomprising a cover layer molded around the tire tube, the combinationbeing further engaged within the at least one hole formed through thewall section to form a strong integrated wheel assembly comprised of thebearing frame, tire tube and cover layer.
 14. The skate wheel assemblyof claim 13 wherein the tire tube is prepressurized with a gas prior tothe cover layer being molded therearound.
 15. The skate wheel assemblyof claim 14 wherein the gas is a nonair molecular gas.
 16. The skatewheel assembly of claim 13 wherein the tire tube is pressurized with anonair molecular gas.
 17. The skate wheel assembly of claim 13 whereinthe tire rim includes a plurality of separate wall sections.
 18. Theskate wheel assembly of claim 17 wherein each separate wall sectionincludes a pair of opposed side walls, and each side wall includes ahole formed therethrough.
 19. The skate wheel assembly of claim 13further including a bridge portion connecting the tire rim and bearingseat, and wherein the cover layer is molded around portions of the tiretube and bridge portion to form a strong integrated wheel assemblycomprised of the bearing frame, bridge portion, tire tube and coverlayer.